Atacama Desert Photos

Atacama Desert Photos

Click on any photo for a larger version of it.

The Trek:
The Atacama Desert has no paved roads and very few dirt ones. Most of the time spent looking for test sites was done off roads.

The Trek:
This is the type of terrain on which Nomad will be driving. When Nomad's tires were designed, the variety and surface density ("unit density") of the desert floor was an important factor.

The Desert:
12 This church is in San Pedro de Atacama. The nearest town is Calama, over four hours away via dirt roads.

The Desert: Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon)
The unusual terrain of the Atacama Desert is one of the major reasons it was picked as the site for this trek. Nomad is one of a series of "planetary explorers": prototypes of robots designed to explore the surface of other planets in our solar system. Nomad's journey thruogh the dessert will give scientists valuable information about how such prototype explorers will perform on extended journeys over harsh terrain.

The Desert: Salt Flat
Notice the white material extending to the mountain range in the background of the Atacama Desert.

The Desert:
This is an example of Atacama terrain not chosen for Nomad's trek.

The Desert:
Geysers at El Tatio 250km north of the trek site. Altitude: 4,500 meters.

The Desert:
This picture was taken the day before the lunar eclipse. Notice how the photographer's shadow is aligned with the moon.

The Desert:
The Atacama Desert Mountains at Sunset.

The Desert:
This picture of the Atacama was taken from a plane.

The Trek:
Part of the terrain on which Nomad will be driving.

The Desert:
These memorials are found in many places in the desert.

The Desert:
A Chilean sunset.

The Trek:
This is one of the areas where Nomad will be driving. Notice the loose rocks.

The Trek:
More of Nomad's potential territory.

The Trek:
Nomad will also be driving here.

The Trek:
This is also part of Nomad's terrain. Notice the dirt road winding through the picture.

The Trek:
Unusual geological formations in the Atacama.

The Desert:
Rock formations.

Desert Geology:
Surveying the floor of the Atacama Desert.

Nomad:
These are members of the team who built Nomad in Pittsburgh. They are now in Chile with Nomad.

Desert Geology:
Two types of rocks from the same place. The geologist, Charles, has just split the bottom rock apart.

Desert Geology:
Here Charles is tagging the rock with its Global Positioning System (GPS) reading. Every rock collected in the field is marked with the coordinates of where it was picked up.

The Trek: Car Trouble
The left front wheel of this truck is completely off the ground. This could pose quite a problem to Nomad.

The Trek:
Nomad will also be driving here. This is challenging terrain that, hopefully, Nomad will handle quite well.

The Desert:

Desert Geology:
Look closely at this picture and you'll see where two rock faces have slid together over time. The left side pushes upwards (there's a small hill behind it) and the right is pushing downwards.